Clip fastener dispenser

ABSTRACT

An improved dispenser for clip type fasteners is disclosed wherein the clips are mounted in a face-to-face array in a dispenser housing that is pivotally mounted on a base. The leading fastener is ejected from the housing by ejection ram means so mounted that it reciprocates in a transverse plane to the array of fasteners with fastener engaging means carried on the ram to engage and eject the leading fastener through an aperture in the housing.

States Patent [1 1 Barr et al. Feb. 26, 1974 [54] CLIP FASTENER DISPENSER 3,402,454 9/1968 Hartman et al. .j .4 29/212 P [76] Inventors Dav s N a" 7 5 via 3,429,431 2/ 1969 Macondray et al 206/56 Montezuma, San Clemente, Calif. 92 72; Bil] Hays 105 2 Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager palladium Ave" Garden Grove Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Strauss Calif. 92640 [22] Filed: Feb. 28, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT pp 229,777 An improved dispenser for clip type fasteners is disclosed wherein the clips are mounted in a face-to-face [52] U5 CL l 29/212 P array in a dispenser housing that is pivotally mounted [51] im. c1...........I..f..f..ffIf.IIII'II" f iszs 7/10 a base- The leading fastener is ejected fmm [58] Fiend of search29/212 P R 211 D housing by ejection ram means so mounted that it re- 29/2] 1 ciprocates in a transverse plane to the array of fasteners with fastener engaging means carried on the ram [56] References Cited to engage and eject the leading fastener through an UNITED STATES PATENTS aperture in the hcmsmg' 3,254,398 6/1966 Macondray et a1 24/66 X i 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CLIP FASTENER DISPENSER DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in means to store and handle and dispense clip fasteners and, in

particular, to a dispenser for paper clips and magazines of clips useful therein.

Resilient type fasteners such as the ubiquitous paper clip, despite their universal use, have heretofore, been packaged and handled in loose quantities without any dispensing means. A considerable time is expended by secretaries and clerks in fumbling in drawers and boxes to retract, extract or untangle a single clip, to orient the clip and to fasten it to loose sheets of paper.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide means for dispensing clip fasteners in an orderly and efficient manner. I

Other and related objects will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

The invention described herein is applicable to resilient, single piece clip fasteners suitable for securing edge portions of sheet material wherein a continuous strip of a resilient material is formed with a convolute shape having three successive bends, generally of 180 each to form inner, opposite and outer bights with the bights and any legs therebetween lying in a common plane.

The improvement in packaging and handling of the aforementioned or the conventional clip fasteners comprises a cartridge or magazine of the substantially flat fasteners disposed in a stacked face to face array and retaining means extending along the length of the stacked array, transverse to the fasteners to secure said fasteners in the array.

The improvement in dispensing means, which is useful with the improved clip fastener described above or with the conventionally shaped clip fastener comprises a housing for storing an array of the clip fasteners; racking means carried by the housing for supporting the plurality of fasteners disposed in a stacked face to face array; ram means slidably moveable along the racking means and engageable againstone end of the array; resilient means on one end of the body or housing to bias the ram means against the array; an ejection means adjacent the opposite end of the housing and supported by means permitting its relative movement transverse to the array with an aperture in the housing opposite from the ejection means; and fastener engaging means on the ejection means operative to engage a single fastener of the array and eject it through the aperture. I

The invention will now be described by reference to the FIGURES, of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates clip fasteners which can be used in this invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a stacked face to face array of clip fasteners;

FIG. 3 illustrates a clip fastener dispensing means; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate alternate embodiments of the clip fastener dispensing means.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a clip fastener is shown. This fastener comprises a first 180 bend forming an inner bight 10, a second 180 bend forming an opposite bight 12 and a third 180 bend forming an outer bight 14 that surrounds the inner bight. The clip fastener is substantially planar with the bights lying in a common plane. It is formed with a continuous strip of resilient material that is bent into the illustrated convolute shape. Various forms of the fastener can be used; the one illustrated is an elongated fastener having an inner leg 16, intermediate leg 18 between the inner and opposite bights and outer legs 17 and 19.

The fastener is formed of resilient material, typically mild or carbon alloy steel wire having a diameter of about 0.020 to about 0.06 inch. An improved gripping surface can be imparted to the wire by a plurality of grooves across the flat surface of the fastener in the conventional manner.

The fastener shown in FIG. I comprises the-inclination of at least one of the inner bight 10 or outer bight 14 from the common plane of the clip fastener to form an included angle A between the planar surfaces of these bights. This angle can be from 1 to about 30, preferably from 3 to about 15f. As shown i n FIG. 1, the bight 10 is slightly inclined to the plane of the fastener, however, comparable results can be obtained if the outer bight or both bights are bent out of the common plane the indicated degree.

Included angle A pennits the easy attachment of the clip fastener to flat sheet material of paper or the like since it presents an open entrance or a mouth for the sheet material. The degree of this opening is limited, however, to prevent the clip from catching other material once it has been placed on sheet material. This construction also obviates any creasing or tearing of thin sheet material such as onionskin. In the preferred embodiment, legs 16 through 19 remain in the common plane of the clip fastener to provide maximum area for gripping of the sheet material and either the inner bight only is bent out of this common plane or, if the outer bight is outside of the common plane, legs 17 and 19 remain in the common plane for substantially their entire length. The deflection of these legs occurs adjacent the end of the inner bight so that the gripping surface of the clip is not diminished by this construction which provides the included angle between the inner and outer bights.

FIG. 2 shows a cartridge of clip fasteners 32 which are in a stacked, face-to-face array and are retained in this array by various retaining means which are shown in the exploded view. A retaining means such as band 22 can be provided with side rails that extend along the length of the array, transversely to the individual clip fasteners, and ends to retain the rails in a resilient clamping relationship to the clip fasteners. Another retaining means comprises box 24 which has deeper sides than band 22 and has a bottom to permit ejection of the individual clip fasteners in the manner described with reference to FIG. 3. Other means, deployable on the exterior of the clip fasteners can comprise a band of ad hesive or a strip of adhesive tape applied along the length of the array to cement the individual clip fasteners together.

Since the clip fasteners have open interiors,.various other means can be used interiorly of the clips to retain the array. Examples of these are channel 30 that can be inserted into any of the openings 33 or 34 between the bights of the clip fasteners. The channel can be provided with one or two ears 36 at each end and these can be bent outwardly to retain the assembly. Another retaining means that can be used comprises the arcuate channel 38 that has at least one sufficiently wide side to extend between the parallel legs 18 and 17 or parallel legs 16 and 19. Preferably, both sides 40 and 42 are sufficiently wide so that they extend between both sides of the parallel legs. Another retaining means can comprise a simple fork 31 that has legs 41 and 35 which can be inserted inside of the bights of the array. The fork can be provided with shoulders 37 and 39 to serve as stop means for the front face of the array. The fasteners can be retained on the fork by the resiliency of the legs 33 and 35 which bias outwardly against the bights of the fasteners. The ends of the legs can also be bent outwardly asv shown to provide greater resistance to removal of the fasteners from the opposite end.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the dispensing device of this invention will be described. As illustrated, a portion of the sidewall of the housing 50 of the device has been cut away to expose its internal construction. The device comprises a base 52 with an upstanding lug 54 having a bore to receive pin 56. The housing 50 has the rear ends of its sidewalls projecting on either side of lug 54 and pin 56 extends through bores in these sidewalls to provide a pivotal connection between the base and housing 50.

A resilient means such as leaf spring means 58 is supported between housing 50 and base 52 to bias these members apart. As shown, one end of the spring 58 is carried by and attached to housing 50 by screw .59 while the opposite and free end of the spring bears against base 52, thereby biasing the housing and base apart.

The housing 50 comprises a generally elongated channel which is open along its under surface, thereby forming a cover that is pivotal relative to the internal frame members. The internal frame members comprise a bottom rail 60 and a generally parallel upper rail 62 which are secured by upright rib members 64 and 66 at the front and rear, respectively, of the rail assembly. The rear rib 66 carries a latch member 68 that is slidably mounted in aperture 70, transversely to rib member 66. The rib member 66 also has a bore 72 that intersects aperture 70 and a resilient means such as a compression spring, e.g., 101, is mounted in bore 72 to bear against pin 56 and thereby bias latch 68 forward. The housing 50 has a notch 74 which is cut in at least one of its sidewalls, opposite latch 68. The end of latch 68 projects past the sidewall so that it will engage in the forward portion of notch 74, above shoulder 76, and thereby lock housing 50 in a closed position about the internal frame members.

The internal frame members comprise the means for storing and delivering the clip fasteners for ejection. The parallel rails 60 and 62 provide rack means to store the fasteners in a slidable support whereby they may be delivered to the ejection means at the front of the dispenser. Slidably mounted between the rails is ram means 80 which comprises a transversely disposed member that has grooves in its top and bottom surfaces to straddle the rails. A ram guide member 82 is mounted between and parallel to the rails 60 and 62 and ram means 80 has an aperture or bore through which the guide member extends. Resilient means such as compression spring 84 is mounted between rear rib 66 and ram means 80 to bias the latter forwardly. The spring preferably surrounds guide member 82 and the rear face of the ram means has a bore 86 for seating the forward end of spring 84.

The clip fasteners are disposed in a face-to-face array on the rack means of the dispenser as shown by the broken lines at 88. These fasteners extend in their array forwardly to the inside face 90 of the front of cover 50 and the array is biased against this face by spring 84.

When cover 50 is opened, by moving latch 68 rearwardly to clear detent or shoulder 76, ram means 80 can be moved to the rear for reloading the device. Preferably, means to retain the ram means at the rear of the device during this reloading is provided. This can simply comprise a notch 92 which can be cut in the inside edge of rail 62 so that the ram means can be displaced slightly transversely of the frame members and be lodged in notch 92. A similar notch 93 is placed in rail 60 and a bail or staple 95 is placed in the bottom surface of ram 80 bridging the groove in this member and operative to seat in notch 93 when the ram is locked at its rearward position. The aperture in the ram means is, of course, sufficiently large to permit relative movement of the ram on its guide member 82. Optional means such as block 94 can be secured to the underside of the top of housing 50 so that when the latter is closed on the frame members, the block 94 will bear against the upper end of ram means 80 and dislodge it from notch 92.

The ejection means comprises a slot 97 cut in the top of housing 50 adjacent its front inside face 90. This slot should have a width greater than the thickness of one clip fastener but less than the thickness of two fasteners so that only a single clip fastener can be ejected through the slot at a time. The length of the slot extends substantially across the housing from side to side and is at least as long as the width of a single fastener. The remaining member of the ejection means comprises ejection ram means 98 that is an upright post of approximately the same flat shape as the clip fasteners. This post is supported at the forward end of base 52 and is directly beneath slot 97 when the housing assembly is pivoted downwardly until its forward end meets the forward end of base 52. Cavity 96 is formed between the front wall of rib 64 and the inner face of the housing 50. The upper surface of ejection ram means 98 in the fastener engaging means that projects into engagement with the leading clip fastener of the array of fasteners and forces it through slot 97. This leading clip fastener 100 is shown in broken lines as it is ejected through the slot 96. The bottom portion of the front end of the housing is removed to permit ram means 98 to engage the leading clip fastener without binding against the housing as it is pivoted about pin 56.

The invention of the dispensing means is not intended to be limited to the illustrated, preferred embodiment. Variations of construction are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate such variations wherein the ejection means is carried by the dispenser housing rather than by its base.

FIG. 4 shows an ejection ram which is slidably mounted on the free end of housing 51. In this embodiment, housing 51 extends forward from the front face of rib 64 a slightly greater distance than that shown in FIG. 3 to provide mounting means for ejection ram 1 10. The side walls of the housing bear upright lips 112 which are opposed to each other and which divide the free space between the inner face of the end of housing 51 and rib 64 into cavity 96 for the forward clip fastener and cavity 99 for mounting of ejection ram 110.

The ejection ram has a longitudinal groove 114 on each side and these grooves form tracks for sliding engagement with lips 112 on the housing. The rear face of ejection ram 110 is stepped with an abutment 116 on its lower end. The upper shoulder 1 18 of this abutment can be square or, preferably, is concave with a curvature mating the lower bight of the clip fasteners to form fastener engagement means.

The front face of housing 51 can have a central, longitudinal groove 120. Pin means 122 can be placed in this groove and seated in a bore in the front face of the ejection ram 110 to provide a stop means to retain the ejection ram on the housing. Spring means 124 is placed in cavity 99 and is biased between the under surface of the top of the housing 51 and the upper end of ejection ram 110, thereby serving to bias the ram downwardly and return it after each use.

in operation, depressing of housing 51 bears the lower end of the ram against base 52 and forces it upwardly against the bias of spring 124. The shoulder 118 engages the lower end of the most forward clip fastener of the array and pushes it upwardly and out of the housing through slot 97. When the housing is released, spring 58 returns it to the open position and spring 124 returns ejection ram 110 to its lowermost position. Spring means 84, shown in FIG. 3, moves the next clip fastener beneath slot 97 for ejection.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment using another ejection ram means which is actuated by movement of housing 53. in this embodiment, the housing is slightly wider and longer than in the other embodiments to accommodate mechanical linkage means between the ejection ram 111 and the pivotable connection of the housing to its base. The housing extends forward of rib 64 and has upright, internal lips 112 to divide the front of the housing 53 into cavities 96 and 107. The ejection ram has a longitudinal groove 114 on each side which provides tracks for sliding engagement with lips 112. The rear face of ram 1 11 is also stepped with abutment 116 which has an arcuate shoulder 118 as fastener engaging means to engage the lower bight of the leading clip fastener.

The forward face of ram 111 has rack means 113 and a meshing pinion 115 is rotatably mounted on shaft 117 which extends between the sides of housing 53. Shaft 117 also carries crank means 119 which is pivotably linked to push rod 121. The latter extends, along one side of the assembly, rearwardly, to a pivotable linkage with crank 123.

The rear lug 55 of the base of the dispenser carries an arcuate rack 125 to one side of its forward face. This rack has a radius about pin 56. The rear of housing 53 carries shaft means 125 in a pivotable socket or bore. Crank 123 and pinion 127 are secured to the shaft with pinion 127 meshed with rack 125.

In operation, downward movement of housing 53 will cause pinion 127 to rotate, clockwise, as illustrated, and crank 123 will urge rod 121 forwardly to crank ram 114 upwardly. Shoulder 118 of the ram will engage the lower end of the leading fastener and force it upwardly into a protruding position in slot 97 for removal from the housing. Spring 58 will return the housing to an upright position for repeated use.

The invention has been described with reference to illustrated and presently preferred embodiments. It is not intended that the invention be unduly limited by this illustration and other embodiments that are functionally equivalent are included within the scope of the invention. It is intended that the invention be defined by the means, and their obvious equivalents, set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A dispensing device for the storage and dispensing of a plurality of fasteners of the type formed by a continuous strip of resilient material having a convolute shape with a first l bend forming an inner bight, a second bend forming an opposite bight and a third 180 bend forming an outer bight surrounding said inner bight with all said bights lying substantially in a common plane which comprises: a base, an elongated housing supported for pivotal movement thereon, racking means carried by said housing along its major length for supporting a plurality of said fasteners disposed in a face-to-face array with the longitudinal axis of said array along the major length of said elongated housing, array ram means slidably moveable along said racking means and engageable against one end of said array, resilient means on one end of said housing to bias said ram means against said array and ejection means adjacent the opposite end of said housing comprising: (1) an aperture in the top wall of said housing having a width less than twice the thickness but greater than the thickness of one of said fasteners, (2) ejection ram means projecting through the wall of said housing opposite of said aperture and carried on one of said housing and said base by means permitting reciprocal movement of said ejection ram means transversely to said longitudinal axis of said array, and (3) fastener engaging means carried by said ejection ram means directly opposite said aperture; whereby pivotal movement of said housing on said base induces engagement of said fastener engaging means with the leading fastener of said array and projection of said fastener through said aperture.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said ejection ram means comprises an upright post supported on the base of said dispensing device, with said fastener engaging means being the upper surface of said post and with said housing bearing a second aperture in its undersurface for entry of said post into said housing upon pivotal movement of said housing in a vertical plane.

3. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said racking means comprises a longitudinal frame within said housing.

4. The dispensing device of claim 3 wherein said housing comprises an inverted channel cover that extends about said longitudinal frame.

5. The dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said cover and said longitudinal frame-are mounted on a common pivotal connection to said base by pin means permitting relative pivotal movement of said cover and fram.

6. The dispensing device of claim 3 wherein said longitudinal frame extends transversely through the open interiors of said fasteners.

7. The dispensing means of claim 1 wherein said frame bears detent means at a rearward portion to engage and retain said array ram means in a retracted position against the bias of said spring means.

8. The dispensing device of claim 1 including resilient spring means positioned between said housing and base to bias said housing apart from said base.

9. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said ejection ram means is slidably carried on the front of said housing and reciprocable between fastener ejection and fastener engagement positions, and said base extends beneath said ram means whereby pivotal movement of said housing urges the lower end of said ram means into contact with said base and continued pivotal movement thereof moves said ram means on said housing to eject said leading fastener therefrom.

10. The dispensing device of claim 9 wherein said ram means is biased into said fastener engagement position by resilient spring means carried within said housing.

11. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said ejection ram means is slidably carried on the front of said housing and reciprocable between fastener ejection and fastener engagement positions and said housing carries mechanical linkage means extending from said base to said ram means and operative to urge said ram means between said positions upon pivotal movement of said housing.

12. The dispensing device of claim 11 wherein said base bears an arcuate rack means, said ram means bears second rack means, said housing carries gear and crank means rotatably mounted thereon in mesh with said arcuate rack and a second gear and crank means rotatably mounted thereon in mesh with said second rack means with push rod means interconnecting said first and second crank means. 

1. A dispensing device for the storage and dispensing of a plurality of fasteners of the type formed by a continuous strip of resilient material having a convolute shape with a first 180* bend forming an inner bight, a second 180* bend forming an opposite bight and a third 180* bend forming an outer bight surrounding said inner bight with all said bights lying substantially in a common plane which comprises: a base, an elongated housing supported for pivotal movement thereon, racking means carried by said housing along its major length for supporting a plurality of said fasteners disposed in a face-toface array with the longitudinal axis of said array along the major length of said elongated housing, array ram means slidably moveable along said racking means and engageable against one end of said array, resilient means on one end of said housing to bias said ram means against said array and ejection means adjacent the opposite end of said housing comprising: (1) an aperture in the top wall of said housing having a width less than twice the thickness but greater than the thickness of one of said fasteners, (2) ejection ram means projecting through the wall of said housing opposite of said aperture and carried on one of said housing and said base by means permitting reciprocal movement of said ejection ram means transversely to said longitudinal axis of said array, and (3) fastener engaging means carried by said ejection ram means directly opposite said aperture; whereby pivotal movement of said housing on said base induces engagement of said fastener engaging means with the leading fastener of said array And projection of said fastener through said aperture.
 2. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said ejection ram means comprises an upright post supported on the base of said dispensing device, with said fastener engaging means being the upper surface of said post and with said housing bearing a second aperture in its undersurface for entry of said post into said housing upon pivotal movement of said housing in a vertical plane.
 3. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said racking means comprises a longitudinal frame within said housing.
 4. The dispensing device of claim 3 wherein said housing comprises an inverted channel cover that extends about said longitudinal frame.
 5. The dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said cover and said longitudinal frame are mounted on a common pivotal connection to said base by pin means permitting relative pivotal movement of said cover and frame.
 6. The dispensing device of claim 3 wherein said longitudinal frame extends transversely through the open interiors of said fasteners.
 7. The dispensing means of claim 1 wherein said frame bears detent means at a rearward portion to engage and retain said array ram means in a retracted position against the bias of said spring means.
 8. The dispensing device of claim 1 including resilient spring means positioned between said housing and base to bias said housing apart from said base.
 9. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said ejection ram means is slidably carried on the front of said housing and reciprocable between fastener ejection and fastener engagement positions, and said base extends beneath said ram means whereby pivotal movement of said housing urges the lower end of said ram means into contact with said base and continued pivotal movement thereof moves said ram means on said housing to eject said leading fastener therefrom.
 10. The dispensing device of claim 9 wherein said ram means is biased into said fastener engagement position by resilient spring means carried within said housing.
 11. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said ejection ram means is slidably carried on the front of said housing and reciprocable between fastener ejection and fastener engagement positions and said housing carries mechanical linkage means extending from said base to said ram means and operative to urge said ram means between said positions upon pivotal movement of said housing.
 12. The dispensing device of claim 11 wherein said base bears an arcuate rack means, said ram means bears second rack means, said housing carries gear and crank means rotatably mounted thereon in mesh with said arcuate rack and a second gear and crank means rotatably mounted thereon in mesh with said second rack means with push rod means interconnecting said first and second crank means. 